Super Trofeo USA | Round 3 - Kansas Speedway

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Change Racing had a dominant day in the second round of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series at the Kansas Speedway with its #63 car, driven by Lawson Aschenson, taking pole, while stablemate Kevin Conway from North Carolina claimed a slice of motorsport history today by claiming victory in Kansas’ inaugural night race. Series newcomer Jayson Clunie however prevented a clean Change Racing sweep by earning the spoils in the amateur category for Exclusive Auto Sports/I-Moto.

The inaugural night race on the infield course at Kansas Speedway

Lawson Aschenbach claimed a convincing pole for race one ahead of Kevin Conway, making it an-all Change Racing front row. But the Maryland driver nearly forfeited his chances by sitting out the early stages of the session and banking on improving track conditions as qualifying progressed. Without a time on the board, a red flag at almost the half way point might have scuppered his chances. However, the session resumed 5 minutes later and the hard-charging Conway and Aschenbach traded times almost to the end of the 40 minutes.

Aschenbach won out in the end and with 44 seconds remaining on the clock, broke the 1 min 15 barrier to deliver a thrilling climax to the grid shoot-out. Roger Miller managed to make it a clean sweep for Change Racing finishing as the fastest amateur driver in P6. Making history under the lights at Kansas Speedway, Lawson Aschenson led the field away for the first race of the weekend and eased a small gap from his front row companion, Kevin Conway. Most of the field held their grid positions during the opening laps until on lap eight, a spin for the 5th placed Robin Miller planted the #99 car in the tire barrier and forced the pace car’s intervention. When the pit window opened in the 20th minute, Conway seized the chance to box early. His tactic, coupled with the neutralization of Aschenson’s advantage behind the pace car allowed him to emerge in the lead following the stops.

Lawsonn Aschenson, car #63

The pace car’s intervention also precipitated a number of penalties that shuffled the order, notably for Lee Carpentier and Paris Mullins but Conway & Carter navigated the obstacles as did the #14 car to regain third position in the hands of Sofronas’ team-mate, Lawrence Holden. The biggest loser was Lawson Aschenson, who had dropped from the race lead to fourth place, almost half a minute down on the leader.

As Conway gradually asserted his lead over Carter, the Jenner pairing of Bruce and son Burt who had held 6th position made an unscheduled pit stop that cost them two places. In the amateur battle, Mullins misfortunes elevated series newcomer Jayson Clunie into 5th place and first amateur car, a position he held to the line which was all the more remarkable considering his very limited practice time in the new Lamborghini Dallas car.

#29 Change Racing car of Kevin Conway on Victory Lane

By the close, Conway took a 5 second lead over Al Carter to the chequered flag, with Lawrence Holden closing out the podium in the Beverly Hills #14 car.